In the courtroom of the Johannesburg High Court located in Palm Ridge, Sifiso Mkhwanazi, aged 21, was found guilty of the murder and rape of six sex workers in Johannesburg.
Judge Cassim Moosa ruled Mkhwanazi guilty on six counts of murder, six counts of rape, six counts of obstructing justice, possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Although acquitted of robbery with aggravating circumstances, he was convicted of theft.
The series of murders occurred in Selby, central Johannesburg, spanning from April to October 2022. Moosa meticulously examined the evidence and testimonies, ultimately rejecting Mkhwanazi’s defense as false beyond reasonable doubt.
Moosa stated, “I find the accused had acted with premeditation and planning and had formed an intention to kill the deceased,” highlighting Mkhwanazi’s lack of credible explanation for his innocence. The judge concluded that Mkhwanazi had engaged in sexual intercourse with the victims unlawfully and attempted to conceal their bodies to obstruct justice.
Despite initially pleading not guilty to charges of rape and murder, Mkhwanazi admitted, under the Criminal Procedure Act, to strangling the women using an arm choke. He contested that the sexual encounters were consensual, paid transactions, and claimed that the women’s demands for additional payment had triggered his rage.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, only three of the victims were identified by the police: Joyce Moyo, Patricia Magaiza, and Chihota Nyarai. Nyarai’s identity was established through a cell phone found in a bag belonging to Mkhwanazi.
